Riviera Maya -Mexico- 2006

1. The up beat town of Playa del Carmen.
2. The quiet stretches of the beach.
3. Resorts of all types from quiet and romantic to busy and bustling - all-inclusive or "do-it-yourself" condos.
4. Great margaritas made with fresh sweet limes - no mix!
5. Ecological parks such as Xelha and Xcaret
6. Mayan Ruins of Tulum
7. Close to Cozumel for superb diving and snorkeling.
8. Mariachis playing each evening
9. Wonderful food of all kinds - especially flamed tequila shrimp.
10. Inexpensive compared to the Caribbean

Quick Tips:

1. If renting a car, make reservations in the US - you'll get a better rate...but take along the paperwork or you may find that they'll rebook you at a higher rate.
2. Before deciding on whether or not to rent a car - make sure that you know exactly where your hotel is and how far from Playa. The corridor from Cancun is about 40 miles long with resorts building up all along.
3. Don't go to Cozumel on the days that many cruise ships are in, unless you really like crowds everywhere.
4. Start out early on tours - It does get hot midday and you'll want to be in the water.
5. The best beaches except for Cancun and further south - Akumal.
6. Bring small inexpensive gifts to leave for housekeepers. They really appreciate it. A few singles help them out also.
7. Ask for recommendations for restaurant at your hotel - more than likely the concierge will give you a card for a free drink. You can even ask at the restaurant when they are luring you in with their meals kisplayed in a show-case.

Best Way To Get Around:

Airport to Playa: If you've booked through a tour operator you more than likely have transfers included. This may cause a short delay at the airport, because they usually want to fill the van before they leave, so this may mean waiting for another flight soon to arrive. But the good thing is that you can purchase snacks and beverages from a vendor just outside the airport doors. During the trip down to Playa, you may stop at one or two other hotels...some people complain, but I enjoy seeing the hotels, even if it's just the lobby. This trip may cost approximately per person.
If you're on a timeshare exchange, the resort may make arrangements at a discount or transportation - call to ask.
There is an airport bus that leaves every two hours or so to downtown Playa and from there you can take a taxi to your hotel... per person.
And of course, private transfers via taxi or limo are always available - cost - probably about for taxi...more for a limo.
And if you really are on a budget - stop to talk to the many timeshare people posing as "information personnel" - they'll get you to your resort "free" - but with a timeshare presentation attached...Is it worth it?
Once in Playa a car is not necessary, unless you plan to do a lot of sightseeing. It is convenient to have one to visit Xelha, Xcaret, Tulum, Cenotes, and snorkeling in Akumal. All of these can be reached by bus - sometimes a long walk from the main highway. And lots of tours are sold with transportation included at many kiosks in town.
From downtown Playa there are two ferries that run every hour to Cozumel - each way. It's a pleasant day trip and better snorkeling and diving there.
Some all-inclusive resorts have a few shuttles daily to Playa or Cancun - but now you're on a schedule. On a daily basis a cab from Riviera Maya resorts is usually about - one way. Downtown Playa is a great pedestrian town - used to be 5 blocks, but it's growing every year. It's very hot during the day, we prefer going early evening to stroll, shop, margaritas, and then dinner....and maybe dancing later.
Cancun has inexpensive buses to transport you from hotels to shopping centers to restaurants. There's so much to do here.

The most luxurious time share exchange that I've been to - 5 star - Gold Crown... all the way! We exchanged for a 2-bedroom unit. Grand Mayan has 7 buildings - 3 stories - all 2 bedrooms that can convert to a 1 bedroom with a studio lock off.

All is marble and granite - Designer light wood furniture with black accents - tables topped with glass - dropped ceilings with pin lights - stainless appliances - frosted doors on showers and toilet stalls - Jacuzzi tub - soaking tub - mini pool on the deck - candles, aroma therapy oils and bath salts for the tubs - lounge chairs on the patio - lightweight waffle fabric robes and embroidered coverlet on King beds - What more could you want? Truly luxury.

The one-bedroom portion has a kitchen with medium size stainless fridge, micro and 4 burner stove - lots of granite counter tops with three bar stools. Pots and pans are stainless but not "non-stick" there are no platters, bouws, strainers or stem glasses. Even housekeeping could not provide wine glasses when requested. Paper towels are not provided. There is daily cleaning and turn down service with plenty of towels but dishwashing is not included.

The glass topped dining table has four padded arm chairs. Two comfortable sofas with foam cushions have a trundle providing sleeping space for four in the living room. The TV has Fox News and CNN available but no DVD player. The bedroom has a sitting area that sleeps one, a chair, desk table, dresser King bed and a soaking tub inside the master suite. The bathroom is large with double sinks, separate shower and toilet stalls. The designer faucets and hardware are luxurious. Glass trays hold large size beauty products but no conditioner. A magnifying mirror, powerful hair dryer and a great shower head are as good as can be expected anywhere.

Sliding doors from the living room and 2 bedrooms lead to a large deck with two lounges and a mini infinity pool - great idea - but the pool was too cool to enjoy. The lock off hotel room converts this 1 bedroom to a 2 bedroom. It's almost identical to the master suite and bath except that it has a trundle sofa and the jetted tub is inside the bathroom with louvres that open to the bedroom. The sliding doors open unto a smaller deck with 2 chairs. A sliding door can separate it from the larger deck to give privacy if needed.

Construction is on going - not terribly noisy - unattractive, but interesting to watch and see the daily progress. This construction consists of a new lobby for the Grand Mayan and a central courtyard with an enormous pool and palapas. The resort is large since it is part of Mayan Palace but the pools and rooms are incredible - It's a great exchange.

Not having visited in 2005 due to the hurricane damage, we drove through Playa del Carmen with mixed feelings - Eager to get back to this small resort directly on the beach, but also wondering in what shape we would find it. Was there any beach left - how had the pool and restaurant been restored - the spa - how would it all be??? As soon as we entered the lobby, a great feeling of peacefulness returned.

The pool is better than ever with a large heated hot tub - more bronze sculptures have been added - a new palapa room above the entrance for relaxing, Internet access and also used for pre-qualifying for timeshare sales guests.

New blue umbrellas and chair cushions have been added but there are still the threadbare beach towels - but you can have as many as you want. The beach is larger than I remember, but they've put in unsightly sand bags that now have vegetation and barnacle growth over them and the shallow pools of water that they surround are murky. There is beach access at either end of the property, but hardly anyone swims in the ocean anymore. Hopefully it will soon improve.

Check-in was great - You are escorted to the beachside restaurant, seated, and offered a cocktail. The timeshare hostess/concierge is there with the welcome package and meal plans that are available - optional to owners but mandatory for RCI exchanges. Complimentary breakfast is served until 10:30am, then snacks - great snacks and more cocktails - chicken satay, pizza, coconut shrimp, tuna, and ham and cheese sandwiches, brownies, profiteroles, and chocolate dipped strawberries - A great welcoming touch.

Rooms have not changed - towels and linens still somewhat shoddy. All is very clean - TV receptions still poor. Maintenance calls were made on a daily basis for either, TV reception, lack of hot water, no A/C. They always responded quickly, but nothing was ever perfectly taken care of... just a temporary patch.

On the plus side... If you show no interest in the offer of a $45 dinner show for attending an update on timeshare, the offer changes to $200 spa credit... we took it and it was great. You must pay 10% tax and leave a tip.

Above the beachside restaurant is a new curved solarium - shady and breezy up there. A cocktail waitress serves drinks and snacks both poolside and on the beach. Louis, the activity director is enthusiastic - aerobics, dance lessons, cooking classes, cocktail lessons - He's fun and gets the crowd to attend. Single and double kayaks, boogie boards, and snorkel equipment are complimentary.

We're still happy to spend a week or two here. Lots has been written against this resort on the Internet - lots of it is true, but it still has charm, lots of potential here - reminds us of an Italian Villa (in Mexico?) on a little private beach. If only they would get rid of the timeshare sales.

Mayan Palace and Grand Mayan share a large resort between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. There are dining options here if you prefer to "stay put". More expensive than going into Playa, but if you don't have a car and take into consideration a $16 cab ride each way, it becomes more appealing. The beachside restaurant that was destroyed in 2005 by the hurricane is being rebuilt.

POOL BARS - there are two of these with excellent waiter service - they will run a tab for the day. Watch for happy hour-usually at 11am and sometimes again late afternoon. The swim-up bar closest the poolside restaurant stay open late - 10pm or so depending on the crowd.

BALCHI - the poolside restaurant serves breakfast with entrées in the $7 - $9 range. Snacks, pizzas, burgers, and simple dishes are featured for lunch. Nothing fancy and of mediocre quality. The bartenders are quite efficient at serving drinks and food to your lounge chair, palapa or poolside "bed" until 5 or 6pm. It's strictly table service later in the evening. The setting is nice by the pool - under the stars - and there is music on some evening. There are themed buffets on some nights and vendors set up poolside. Buffets are priced in the $30 - $40 range depending on the food served - We didn't eat there - the food just didn't look appealing.

DEL LAGO is a large palapa topped restaurant and showroom that serves daily buffets at $17.95 at breakfast and in the $35 - $50 range at night. On Mexican night at $50 per person, native drinks were included. The food looked good and plentiful, On one particular night beef tenderloin and fish were being freshly grilled to order - but we thought overpriced. The nightly shows are featured at 8pm and some are real "productions"... There is no charge for these and you can order drinks without food service.

TRAMONTO BAR has a nightly "happy hour" from 7pm to 8pm - No food is available here - not even snacks, which I think is a shame. It's a beautifully decorated bar with lots of stools, tables, chairs, and comfortable sofas overlooking the pool and ocean beyond. Some nights feature Karaoke, Poker, or Casino night and other nights it becomes a sports bar or music with a DJ. Simple bar food or even sandwiches would increase the number of people that it would appeal to.

TRAMONTO RESTAURANT has in interesting menu - reasonably priced with lots of selections - from $10 pastas and pizzas to ridiculously priced $45 for a 10 ounce - 3 course prime rib dinner . Nightly entertainment with a guitarist make this a popular spot. Make sure to have reservations or you will be turned away.

ROOM SERVICE is another option. It takes about 1/2 hour and the food is served hot. In fact the pizza delivered is better than that served poolside.

At most resorts that you visit there are things that you love and other things that you'd like to see changed. We've been to Mayan Palace and the Grand Mayan a few times. Here's my personal opinion of the good, the bad and the ugly...

WHAT I LIKED:

The friendly Mexican people.
The cleanliness of the resort.
The lush foliage.
Lots of palapas, lounges, and more pool-beds each year.
The gift shop is better than any in Playa - it carries lovely gifts and clothing.
Pools are magnificent and clean - open late with great waiter service.
In-resort transportation is excellent and dependable. They even take you to the highway for cheap buses to Playa and Cancun.
Plenty of planned daytime activities for adults and children if you wish to take part.
Tramonto Restaurant and Bar are beautiful with nightly entertainment.
Playa del Carmen and 5th Avenue get better every year - pedestrian area has grown again this year.
For groceries - Mega, Chendraui, Sam's Club, and Wallmart allow you to enjoy most of what you are accustomed to in the states.

WHAT I MISSED:

No dimmers on lights.
No serving dishes or stem glasses - even the bell boys or front desk could not get us wine glasses.
The resort is too big already and just keeps on growing.
Most rooms have little or no ocean views.
Beach and ocean are still as rocky and full of coral as ever - will it ever get better. You must walk down the beach to enter the water.
Timeshare - still a big part of this resort but much less obtrusive than in the past - they no longer parade the would-be buyers around the pool and they have their own area for the complimentary breakfast.
Bug Spray - every night at 5pm - but it's better than the alternative - find a place to hide.

We continue to return as often as an exchange allows us to. It is a beautiful and well run resort with lots going for it.